Fort Lauderdale police car catches fire during chase

A Fort Lauderdale police officer was able to escape unharmed from her cruiser after it caught fire during the early-morning pursuit of a burglary suspect Monday.

Police are still trying to find out how the car caught fire on the westbound ramp of Interstate 595 that leads onto I-95.

The incident began as a burglary call to Giuliano's Italian Restaurant in the 1900 block of Cordova Road about 6 a.m. Monday, police said.

Police said the officer later saw the suspect's vehicle and began pursuing it. The burglary suspect, who is still at large, got out of his car and ran off near the Broward Shipyard off State Road 84 in Davie.

The officer was part of the chase, but it is unclear whether she was pursuing the suspect at the time of the blaze.

Restaurant owner Giuliano Vallorani said someone smashed the glass front door to get into his business. Vallorani said a television and a cash register were taken.